Arlington, Va.-based Ascend, a partner for regional accounting firms supported by private equity firm Alpine Investors, announced it has welcomed two more regional leaders onto the platform.
Effective June 1, Glenn Burdette of San Luis Obispo, Calif., and Saltmarsh Cleaveland & Gund (“Saltmarsh”) of Pensacola and Tampa, Fla., became the latest firms to join the Ascend platform. Glenn Burdette, formerly an employee-owned (ESOP), adds a presence in central California to Ascend’s West Coast footprint. Saltmarsh gives Ascend its first foothold in Florida. Both firms bring deep market roots in their respective regions and the people-focused foundational values that are core to Ascend’s approach.
Nishaad (Nish) Ruparel, Ascend’s president, said, “These are two monumental partnerships for Ascend. Glenn Burdette was founded 60 years ago, and in 2000 became the first CPA firm in California to form an ESOP. That decision marked the firm’s commitment to a set of core values that they still wear on their sleeve today – a desire to provide opportunity for their people, a focus on shared ownership as an enabler of success and a fierce commitment to hold the pen on their own story. Unwinding that ESOP and entering into a partnership with Ascend is meaningful because it marks the firm’s willingness to revisit whether those values were safeguarded by the proper vehicle for transformation during changing times. We are honored to be the partner they chose on the other side of that deep exploration.”
Ruparel continues to share, “Saltmarsh has an equally proud history, with an 80-year legacy in Florida’s panhandle and central cities. The firm is synonymous with quality, is a longstanding best-place-to-work, and has a dynamic group of partners that are seen as trusted advisors across disciplines. Less than a year ago, Lee Bell and the Saltmarsh leadership team took the time they needed to articulate a strategic vision that would carry the firm into the next decade and enumerate a plan for achieving that vision. We feel privileged that they decided Ascend is best positioned to help them fulfill those ideals.”
David Merlo, CEO of Glenn Burdette, said, “Partnering with Ascend is the right move at the right time for Glenn Burdette. Their forward-thinking approach and shared values make them a natural fit for our next chapter. We chose Ascend because of their strong commitment to reimagining what’s possible—for both our clients and our people. This combination enhances our ability to deliver deeper expertise, broader resources and more innovative solutions, while opening new pathways for growth and development for our employees. We’re excited to build a future together that is greater than anything we could achieve alone.”
Lee Bell said, “The success of our business is entirely about putting our people first so they can do what they love, which is helping our clients achieve success. Ascend’s intense focus on people and their unique concentration on supporting our more than 80-year legacy as Saltmarsh is why we made the decision to partner with them. We found ourselves spending valuable time and energy just to keep up with rapidly evolving industry demands. And we concluded that we needed a partner to stay comfortably ahead, so we can keep our energy focused on our people and our service to clients. Our great clients will continue to work with the same Saltmarsh professionals, right where they are today. But now we will have the power of an industry-leading organization, with growth capital and real ability to continually adapt to a rapidly changing future. Partnering with Ascend will make Saltmarsh that much better and allow us to immediately bring our people’s career paths into a modern era, enabling them to continue serving the clients they love, where they love to work and live.”
